On this blog Mail-Artists can publish their views and thoughts about mail-art. If you want to take part, just send an e-mail to info@iuoma.org and I will invite you. If you want to publish projects, please go to Mail-Art Projects. Also see the developments on The Chinese Mail-Art Project

Sunday, June 8, 2008

53) A mail art a day...

Hello,

I'd like to know how other mail artists "work": Do you produce daily / on the week end / from time to time, but focussed?

The background of my question is that often a "guilty" feeling starts when I don't make & send cards - mostly because my job eats me... From time to time I plan to make a card a day, as quick & dirty as I can, but at least I have cards to send. But then my "standards" come knocking and say: "You don't want to send this card?!?".

8 comments:

For me the process is also difficult. My work keeps me busy most of the week. In the weekends I scan mail, post images, work on new envelops, en also send out more then during the week. If you visit my blog you can see that most happens during the weekend. Sometimes also in the middle of the week, but not that regularely.

I feel bad that when I don't reply to someone within a couple of weeks.

I have had an accident and haven't been able to post anything for the past couple of months and it eats away at me, though I still make things every day.

I often feel guilty because I am not up to the artistic standards of others, but then I remind myself that it is about free expression for me so if someone doesn't like what I send them that's unfortunate but not a crime.

Next to the feeling of too little output there is the idea that I should produce more constantly. Like, let's say, every Saturday afternoon should be my mailart time. But well, there are so many things to do. Or I feel completely uninspired. Or. Or. Or :-)Just a shame that I always forget (or not consider) how good it feels having done some posts...

Hi mischa,Since I've retired I can do Mail-Art whenever I want to. But, I can't force creativity so I do it when I'm "in the zone." Since I'm a night owl, I usually feel like doing mail-art around 11h00pm and sometimes I will work until 5h00am. I become so engrossed that I lose track of time. I always do mail-art on the weekends.

If I were working, I doubt if I'd have any time for it since I always had a lot of work to bring home and finish up.

I usualy do mail art when I feel inspired. Sometimes it makes no sense in creating something. It feels like I'm being forced to something... And for me mail art is a way to escape the daily stress and to release my thoughts and dreams. Not an obligation. Its like poetry. We need that little inner spark to write it. And so it is with mail art. :)

Hello. I agree with Eduardo: you need that spark to create. But I think that to have time is also important, or better, to dedicate time for myself is important. So, when I do not produce for a long time I "suffer" not (only) because I don't send cards but mainly because I am "guilty" toward myself.I feel that if do not create (explode) there is an implosion that hurts me.